Survey on Employees Taking Leave or Resigning Due to Mental Health: Nearly Half Say 'Consulting the Workplace Won't Change Anything'

Smart Souda-shitsu Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director & CEO: Yasuo Fujita; hereinafter 'the Company') announced the results of a survey regarding employees who have taken a leave of absence or resigned due to mental health issues. The survey targeted 413 corporate employees who have experienced a leave of absence or resignation primarily due to mental health conditions (such as stress, depressive symptoms, and adjustment disorders) within the past 3 years (relaxed criteria: within 5 years).

■ Summary

01 | Approximately 60% of employees who experienced a leave of absence or resignation due to mental health issues cited 'job pressure/difficulty' and 'relationships with supervisors/harassment' as the main causes.

02 | In the initial stages of feeling physical and mental abnormalities, 34.8% 'did nothing, endured, and continued working.' Even at the stage where they felt they had reached their limit, 24.7% continued to endure.

03 | 65.8% felt 'resistance' toward consulting or reporting to their workplace. The reason for 49.6% was that 'consulting wouldn't change the situation.'

■ Survey Overview

Survey Name: Survey on the Turning Point for Leave of Absence/Resignation Due to Mental Health Issues

Survey Method: Internet survey

Survey Period: March 24, 2026 - March 26, 2026

Valid Responses: 413 corporate employees who have experienced a leave of absence or resignation primarily due to mental health conditions (stress, depressive symptoms, adjustment disorders, etc.) within the past 3 years (relaxed criteria: 5 years).

*Since composition ratios are rounded to the first decimal place, the total may not necessarily equal 100.

■ Causes of mental health issues for those with leave/resignation experience: 'Job pressure/difficulty' highest at 32.2%, 'Relationships with supervisors/harassment' over 20%

When asked 'Q1. What is the most applicable main cause of your mental health issues?' (n=413), more than half of the total concentrated on two points: 'Job pressure/difficulty' (32.2%) and 'Relationships with supervisors/harassment' (23.5%). In particular, since 'Relationships with supervisors/harassment' and 'Relationships with colleagues/harassment' are major factors following the work itself, caring for human relationships in addition to workload is considered essential for improving the workplace environment.

Job pressure/difficulty: 32.2%

Relationships with supervisors/harassment: 23.5%

Relationships with colleagues/harassment: 9.4%

Long working hours: 8.5%

Poor workplace atmosphere: 8.0%

Unfair personnel evaluation/low salary: 4.4%

Private reasons: 4.1%

Anxiety about future career: 2.9%

Other: 1.2%

Don't know/cannot answer: 5.8%

■ Over half of those with leave/resignation experience answered that it took '3 months or more' from feeling physical/mental abnormalities to taking leave/resigning

When asked 'Q2. Before reaching the point of taking a leave/resigning, how much time passed from when you began to feel physical and mental abnormalities (e.g., decreased sleep quality, loss of motivation, frequent poor health) until you actually took leave/resigned?' (n=413), 14.5% answered '1 year or more,' 17.9% 'about 6 months to 1 year,' and 21.8% 'about 3 to 6 months.' Over half continued to work for 3 months to over a year while being aware of symptoms, indicating that companies need an ongoing support system to prevent the 'prolongation of poor health.'

1 year or more: 14.5%

About 6 months to 1 year: 17.9%

About 3 to 6 months: 21.8%

About 1 to 3 months: 24.5%

Less than 1 month: 10.4%

Did not feel any particular abnormality (it was sudden): 5.3%

Don't know/cannot answer: 5.6%

■ Actions taken in the initial stage of abnormalities: 'Did nothing in particular, endured and continued working' tops at 34.8%

When asking those who answered other than 'Did not feel any particular abnormality (it was sudden)' or 'Don't know/cannot answer' in Q2, 'Q3. Please tell us the actions you took in the initial stages when you felt physical and mental abnormalities. (Multiple answers allowed)' (n=368), 'Did nothing in particular, endured and continued working' was the most common at 34.8%, showing a situation where it is difficult to ask for help in the early stages.

Did nothing in particular, endured and continued working: 34.8%

Consulted an external medical institution (psychosomatic medicine, mental clinic, etc.): 27.7%

Consulted family or friends: 25.8%

Consulted supervisor: 23.4%

Consulted colleagues: 20.1%

Consulted HR department or internal consultation desk: 19.3%

Searched for information on the Internet or SNS: 12.5%

Consulted an external consultation desk (external EAP) set up by the employer: 10.3%

Took as much rest as possible: 9.0%

Other: 0.5%

Don't know/cannot answer: 1.1%

■ 34.0% 'consulted a medical institution' when they felt they reached their limit, while 24.7% 'endured and continued working'

'Q4. Among those in Q2, 'Did not feel any particular abnormality (it was sudden)' and 'Don't know/answer